Editor reviews

1 reviews

Italian Perfection

July 19, 2018

Overall rating

4.9

Music

5.0

Cover

4.0

Reviewer

Written

July 18, 2018

Review

The ‘Monster of Florence’ a notorious serial killer provides the grisly theme for this album, but despite the forbidding subject matter this is just one hell of a magical album. Penetrating, spaced out, harmonious and a full on exciting cacophony of well-ordered sound. There is just so much to appreciate, absorb and enjoy, wonderful passages of intense atmospheric music with landscapes full of dramatic musical colour that both pleases and astounds you to the core.
Integrating classical ideals with harder edged progressive rock sensibilities the music abounds with dreamlike symphonies entwined with blistering psychedelic guitar sequences that forever spring out at you from around every corner of the total musical score.

A major attribute in respect to this project is that nothing is predictable, every aspect of the composition, musical arrangements and vocal delivery is fresh, interesting and remarkably melodic.

The vocals, a mixture of duet and solo arrangements are stunning. The voices of Fabio Nicolazzo and Laura Menighetti blend together so well with perfect diction, clear and precise intonation. Truely an algamation of sheer perfection the vocals are yet another highlight of the album.

Nine superb tracks sandwiched between layers of eerie interludes of news items, gloomy sounds of the underground system at nightime plus other creepy unsettling audio effects. Music from start to finish that flows majesticaly along drawing you ever closer into the labyrinth of its evil intentions with a mixture of deeply resonant string sounds of cello, violin and mixed with interludes of beautifully administered saxaphone. And then to the fore oodles of wonderful classical piano, stunning lead guitar, spooky Hammaond organ and other various keyboard contributions.

The whole affair is a sheer delight totally unique and has to be heard to be believed.

Summary: An easy five star album, a must for every collection. Totally absorbing from start to finish.

FROM The Press Release “Una Stagione all'Inferno” is an Italian rock band formed in1997 by the collaboration between Fabio Nicolazzo, coming from Genoa's gothic rock scene, and Laura Menighetti, of classical training. Later Diego Banchero (Il Segno del Comando), Carlo Opisso and Francesco Scariti joined the band, that released the song “La ballata di Carini” which was included in the compilation "E tu vivrai nel terrore..." published in 1998 by the Genoese label Black Widow Records. The track is the theme song of the famous 70s script "L'amaro caso della Baronessa di Carini" interpreted by the band in a dark progressive way. Subsequently the band was preparing to make a concept album about that script, but this didn't happen because of disagreements within the band.
In 2011 Fabio Nicolazzo and Laura Menighetti decided to take up the band, and this led to the ambitious idea of creating a concept on "Il Mostro di Firenze" (The Monster of Florence), and the record will eventually come out in the spring of 2018 after a long process due to the topic's complexity. In the following years a partnership was created with the drummer and sound engineer Marco Biggi (ex Rondò Veneziano, ex Radio Gaga), Roberto Tiranti (Labyrinth, Wonderworld, etc.) Pier Gonella (Ex Labyrinth, Mastercastle, Necrodeath) and Paolo Firpo (classical saxophonist ), and, thanks also to the collaboration with a string trio composed by Kim Schiffo (cello), Laura Sillitti (violin) and Daniele Guerci (viola), the album comes to life with gloomy and misty hues, a journey through the wastelands of madness and the occult.